Family-centered practice is at the core of child welfare work, including work with children and youth in group and residential care. The following resources highlight the importance of working with families to achieve positive outcomes for children and youth in care.
Building Bridges Initiative
Promotes partnerships and collaborations among residential and community providers, families, youth, advocates, and policymakers to achieve positive outcomes for youth and families touched by a residential intervention. The Initiative's website offers white papers, tip sheets, tools, and more.
Family-Centered Treatment
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
Offers basic information and resources regarding family services within the scope of adults entering treatment who are at high risk of child abuse and neglect, developmental problems, and adolescent substance use.
Family Connection Discretionary Grants: 2012 Funded Comprehensive Residential Family Treatment Projects Final Cross-Site Evaluation Report (PDF - 1,638 KB)
James Bell Associates (2016)
Presents findings from a study that examined the effectiveness of five projects that provided comprehensive residential treatment services to families impacted by the child welfare system. The report addresses processes and outcomes at various levels and includes results of a survey administered to grantee leadership, staff, service providers, and collaborating partners that assesses multiple aspects of implementation and impact. The executive summary (PDF - 463 KB) is also available.
Identifying Aftercare Supports for Out-of-Home Transitions: A Descriptive Analysis of Youth Perceptions and Preparedness (PDF - 3,220 KB)
Trout, Huscroft-D’Angelo, Epstein, & Kavan (2014)
The Journal of At-Risk Issues, 18(1)
Assesses the views of youth exiting a residential program on perceptions of transition planning and aftercare as well as their preparedness for the reintegration and perceptions regarding specific services and supports.
Parents as Partners: Family Connection and Youth Incarceration (PDF - 644 KB)
Northwestern University (2018)
Community Safety & The Future of Illinois’ Youth Prison, (2)
Emphasizes the importance of family involvement and engagement during the time the child is in the juvenile justice system and long after they leave the system to continue encouraging positive development and behavior as enter adulthood.
Tip Sheet for Families Considering a Residential Program (PDF - 207 KB)
Building Bridges Initiative
Provides information from family members of children who have received residential services so the reader can focus on what is most important to them and to their child and decide which questions they might want to ask and when.